Haringey Council begs residents to volunteer as lollipop people as they admit they can’t afford to pay for them.

HARINGEY Council seems to have the Big Society licked after appealing for parents to take over from lollipop people they can’t afford to pay for.

Haringey is continuing to employ 20 school crossing patrol officers it currently has – unlike Barnet Council which has axed all the posts – but five schools still need help.

Cabinet member for neighbourhoods Nilgun Canver explained: “We receive many requests from parents to recruit more crossing patrol officers and we would like to tap into this and see whether parents could become involved in helping to provide this service.”

But William Dean, head-teacher at Highgate Primary – one of the schools that needs a lollipop person – isn’t fully convinced. He said: ‘‘I would love a road crossing patrol officer and would welcome a volunteer or even a team of volunteers. However, since it is a notoriously difficult post to fill, even in a paid capacity, I don’t imagine recruiting a suitable volunteer will be easy.”

Coleridge Primary School’s lollipop lady Sue Ward (pictured left) said: “I think this is a good idea if parents are willing to do it.” But she warned it was not an easy task adding: “You have to put up with the public, who give you a lot of aggro, but it’s mainly that we have to be out there in all weathers.”

Parents can join in groups to cover a school and will be given full training, insurance cover and equipment. There are also vacancies at Rokesly Infants, Stroud Green Primary, Hornsey School for Girls and St Mary’s Junior School.

For more information contact the council’s transport department.